Ballistics for a 38 derringer?

[Okiecruffler]

Before we get into the good vs useless discussion on the derringer let me say this question is just curiousity. Already had a 38 derringer, was a fun toy, but so was my jackinthebox, doesn't mean I want another one. But does anyone have the actual numbers for the 38 special, or any other bigger bores out of the derringer?

[No Quarter]

My .44 mag Bond Arms will throw a 240gr JSP bullet at 1100 fps. If you do a search for "derringer", one of the board members has done some ballistics testing with derringers in various calibers.

[M2 Carbine]

I chronographed my 45ACP Bond Arms Derringer.
45 Aguila IQ does 1245 FPS.

1942 GI FMJ does745 FPS (but the old ammo has lost about 25-50 FPS)

230gr Federal HS does 787 FPS

Winchester 185 gr Silvertip does 866 FPS


I've had a 38 Derringer for years that I leave on the tractor for snakes but I don't have any chrono numbers.


About the only other info I have is the accuracy tests I did a couple years ago.
Well, not really accuracy tests, the gun is accurate but this is about as good as I can shoot it.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v135/Bell406_206B/Bond4510yards.jpg

[Okiecruffler]

So far not as much loss as I was expecting.

[sig220mw]

How about those Bond Arms derringers. I'm thinking about getting one.
What do you guys think of them?

[M2 Carbine]

What do you guys think of them?
They are well made.
Expensive.
Big and heavy for a Derringer.
Has a very hard trigger pull (necessary since while handling the gun it's easy to accidentally pull the trigger)
Changing the calibers is a nice feature.

I don't carry mine, since for the size and weight I could carry something like a steel 2 inch S&W.

A Derringer is somewhat slow and awkward to get into action, so when I bought my Bond 45ACP I loaded a thousand target loads for it to get a lot of practice. At that time I was still considering pocket carrying the Bond.

[grendelbane]

I have only chronographed a couple of derringers, a .32 ACP and a .22LR, but both performed very well.

No cylinder gap, and no slide to reciprocate is the reason.

It is a shame that they are so difficult to shoot.

The .32 ACP I chronographed would almost make 1100 fps with the 60 grain Fiochi hollow points.

[BullpupBen]

Derringers have no cylinder gap, no action to work, and with respect to their sides, very long barrels. I would expect them to have more velocity than a snubby, and about the same as a subcompact auto.

For example if you get the 5" Texas Defender and put 9mm barrels on it, I would expect velocity to exceed a Glock 17.